CHICAGO – Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today signed a law that extends the Medical Practice Act until 2010.Recognizing the necessity in providing quality healthcare in Illinois, Senate Bill 2179 continues the regulation of physicians and ensures that no licenses for practicing doctors in Illinois will expire at the end of the year.

The bill was sponsored by State Senator James Clayborne (D – East St. Louis) and State Representative Angelo “Skip” Saviano (R – River Grove).The current Medical Practice Act sunsets on December 31, 2008.

“Our hardworking physicians are one of the most important resources to the people in Illinois.Ensuring that we have the adequate framework in place to properly license them is of utmost concern,” said Governor Blagojevich.“That is why I’m signing this critical bill today and preventing the act from expiring.”

The Medical Practice Act was passed by the General Assembly in 1987 to set forth the laws by which physicians in Illinois are regulated.The Act specifically identifies the types of violations for which doctors can be charged and disciplined.The absence of this Act would mean that physicians would not be required to meet the educational and clinical competencies as well as necessary continuing education requirements.The extension of the Act also ensures no current licenses for practicing doctors in Illinois would automatically expire.